Moment of Meditation: Controlled (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

Original Broadcast: September 2008

Monthly Theme: Stewardship

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this:
that one has died for all,
that those who live might no longer live for themselves
but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.
(2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

Controlled

No one likes to give up control. It doesn't matter if it's the remote control for the television or preparing for surgery. No one wants to feel that they are out of control or under someone else's control.

However, Christians understand that their entire lives are controlled by the love of Christ. It's this love that generates a Christian's every loving and faithful act. It's Christ's love that brings about true stewardship. As St. Paul said, "Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). The opposite is also true. Whatever DOES proceeds from faith is righteous.

But we can't do anything righteous of our own. But we do produce righteous fruits because we are controlled by Christ's love. And the ultimate showing of Christ's love is His death on the Cross and resurrection from the grave. It's because He has done all that for us that we can desire to be good stewards of the world and faith that He has given to us. Amen.